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www.godubai.com For Tourist Visa, Online Hotel Booking, Tours & Excursions, Car Rental email at [email protected] TEL : +971 4 2292675 FAX : +971 4 2292674 EMAIL : [email protected] index 1. Overview.................................................................................................................... 3 a. History......................................................................................... 4 b. Geography................................................................................. 5 c. Environment.............................................................................. 6 d. Culture......................................................................................... 6 e. Islam & ramadan........................................................................ 7 f. Climate.......................................................................................7 g. Society....................................................................................... 8 h. Economy.................................................................................... 9 2. Ruling Family.............................................................................................................. 10 3. Visa regulations........................................................................................................ 11 4. Airport......................................................................................................................... 13 5. Hotel........................................................................................................................... 14 6. Tourism Hotspot........................................................................................................ 17 7. Fun for the Family...................................................................................................... 23 8. Tours & Excursions.................................................................................................. 25 9. Transport.................................................................................................................... 27 10. Womens Only........................................................................................................... 28 12. Special Needs Tourism.......................................................................................... 29 13. Security.................................................................................................................... 30 14. Space Tourism......................................................................................................... 31 14. Emergency Hotline Number................................................................................. 32 tourist essentials HOTELSOverview “In the race for excellence, there is no finish line” — Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and the Ruler of Dubai. Inspired by the vision of its ruler, the glittering metropolis of Dubai is moving ahead in dizzying pace to clinch the top position among other global destinations, ahead of other traditional favourites like Hong Kong, Paris and Singapore. The government has projected an ambitious figure of 15 million tourists who are expected to arrive in Dubai by 2010. The world’s eyes are strained on Dubai where even the most incredible is becoming possible. Man-made islands, building of a new coast- line, the world’s tallest habitable tower, new parameters of leisure water-front living, the world’s largest mall, a rotating tower….the list is seemingly endless. Billions of dollars are being pumped into spectacular tourism projects like Bawadi fashioned on the Las Vegas model, clusters of man-made islands are being built all round Dubai’s coastline, in the shape of the Palm, and the World. Then there is the world’s tallest tower Al Burj, dwarfing the Taipei 101 and the Petronas Twin Tower, Al Burj. Dubailand with its themed parks and Disney-style entertainment, world class lifestyle resorts like the Dubai Festival City, you can only see to believe the magical transformation of Dubai’s skyline. www.godubai.com tel : +971 4 2292675 fax : +971 4 2292674 email : [email protected] 3 tourist essentials HISTORY HistoryHOTELS and bought with them Islam from western Saudi Arabia. The Arabs were followed by the Mongols and soon after the Ottomons, each leaving their mark on the local culture and all championing the Islamic religion. From the eighth century onwards, Dubai strengthened its position as a leading trade port between the eastern and western worlds, with the silk trade from China and the pearling industry of the Persian Gulf Often described as a city of contrasts, Dubai offers a fabulous cosmopolitan lifestyle with an understated elegance. There are attractions galore for the visitors: sunny beaches, five-star services, legendary hotels, vibrant shopping centres and gleaming skyscrapers vie with the traditional dhows and ancient souks. Where else can a tourist experience everything from large state-of-the art leisure and retail malls to sandy beaches, turquoise waters, lush green parks and the enduring tranquility of the desert, all in a single day of sightseeing. Dubai’s history could make a script for a Hollywood movie pale into insignificance. Before its massive transformation post oil-strike in the 60’s, its past paints an intriguing story earning the region some major maritime of pearl divers, smugglers, colonial rule and brownie points. independence all on the fast forward track. Dubai was taken over in 1830 by the Bani Yas Historical documentation of Dubai is scarce, tribe from the Liwa Oasis led by the Maktoum but the city’s emphatic position as the region’s family. Commercial success linked to the liberal leading trading post dates back to the ancient attitudes of Dubai’s rulers made the emirate Kingdom of Sumer around 3000 BC. There are attractive to traders from India and Iran who even records that link the emirate to the began to settle in the growing town. By the Bronze Age, Magan civilisation of 2000 BC, turn of the century Dubai was reputed to have and suggest that Dubai Port was the main the largest souks in the Gulf Coast with 350 shipping route between Oman and shops in Deira district alone. Mesopotamia, as well as other ancient empires. While trade developed, Dubai remained a The list of occupiers from 3000 B.C. onwards protectorate of Britain as part of the trucial was swift, with one civilization overcoming and states which extended along the Northern conquering the last. Among the most Coast of the Arabian peninsula. When the influential was the Persian dynasty of Sassanid, British withdrew in 1971, Dubai joined Abu who had taken Dubai Creek and its Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm-Al Quwain, surrounding areas as its own since 224 B.C. Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah to form the But it was a short-lived occupation. Come the Federation of the United Arab Emirates. seventh century, the Umayyads came, settled, www.godubai.com tel : +971 4 2292675 fax : +971 4 2292674 email : [email protected] 4 tourist essentials GEOGRAPHY HOTELSGeography Ras Al Khaimah Umm Al Quwain Ajman Sharjah Dubai Fujairah Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Dubai Sharjah Ajman Ras Al Khaimah Umm Al Quwain Fujairah The United Arab Emirates sits proudly on the it is the largest sand desert in the world, north-eastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, covering an area roughly the same size as bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and west France, Belgium and the Netherlands. and the Sultanate of Oman to the east and north. The country is made up of seven Dubai is made up largely of arid desert and with emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, sometimes breathtaking sand dunes hiding the Sharjah, Umm AI Quwain, and Ras AI odd oasis. This juxtaposition of geography Khaimah. Abu Dhabi, which occupies over coupled with incredibly high temperatures 80% of the country, is the biggest emirate, with limits the variety of flora and fauna present, Dubai the second largest. but you’ll be surprised at just how green parts of the UAE are, and In contrast to Dubai’s glittering skyline and Dubai is no exception with the UAE larger-than-life projects, the coast of the UAE government spending time and money on its is littered with coral reefs and over 200 islands, ‘greening’ programme. Well-maintained grass, most of which are uninhabited. healthy palm trees and pretty flowers lining The majority of the country is desert, but to endless roads are a common feature in this the east, rises the formidable Hajar Mountains. part of the world. Lying close to the Gulf of Oman, they form a backbone through the country, from the But one issue that the UAE is still struggling to Mussandam Peninsula in the north, through overcome is water consumption - currently the the eastern UAE and into Oman. highest per capita in the world. A desalination The Rub AI Khali, more commonly known as complex has been built in Jebel Ali in an the Empty Quarter, occupies a swathe of the attempt to combat the lack of ground water south of the country - its desert punctuated by and meet this near-impossible demand, but the occasional oasis and spectacular dunes. long-term solutions are still awaited. Common to Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen, www.godubai.com tel : +971 4 2292675 fax : +971 4 2292674 email : [email protected] 5 tourist essentials ENVIRONMENT / CULTURE EnvironmentHOTELS Although Dubai represents vast stretches of desert land, there are over 3,500 plants endemic to the country, as well